The DeKalb Middle School Saints were on the road last week, traveling to Hartsville to take on the tough Satterfield Yellow Jackets. DeKalb looked to be ready for the game, but miscues doomed the Saints almost from the beginning of the game.

The Yellow Jackets were due to receive at the start of play, but the Saints attempted a little trickery. An onside kick looked to go DeKalb’s way, but Satterfield was able to fall on the ball first at their own 49-yard-line. The very next play, Satterfield made the Saints pay, with a run all the way in for six. A run for two was good, and just like that Satterfield was up 8-0 only 11 seconds into the game.

DeKalb started their first drive at their own 28, and soon found themselves losing yards. A run by Tyler Bundy went for no gain, then another looked like a first down at the 35, but a block in the back penalty pushed them in the opposite direction. A run by Tanner Poss resulted in a one-yard loss, then a pass to Grayson Redmon fell incomplete. On a fourth and 20 from the DeKalb 18, the Saints decided to punt, but a false start backed them up five more. Then, a high snap resulted in a short punt that was quickly run back for a touchdown. Another two-point run was good, and the Yellow Jackets had a 16-0 lead, with 6:03 left in the first quarter.

The Saints’ luck would get no better, and on the next drive DeKalb would go three plays for three yards. On a fourth and seven from their own 33, Poss was taken down in the backfield, with Satterfield taking over at the DeKalb 20. Two plays later, a quarterback keeper gave the Yellow Jackets six more. A pass for two points was good, and the Saints were down 24-0, with 3:05 left in the first quarter.

DeKalb’s next possession began at their own 38, and they finally began moving the ball. Going into the second quarter, runs by Bundy, and a pass to Josh Carlton, moved the Saints to their own 45. There, they faced another fourth and three, and the ball was again handed to Bundy, who pounded down to the Satterfield 48. Two more Bundy runs took them to the Yellow Jackets’ 41, but another run lost yards to the 44. Then, on another fourth down play, a fumbled handoff resulted in the Yellow Jackets taking over on downs.

Satterfield looked to add to their total and moved five plays to the DeKalb 23, but then a stripped ball was run back to the Saints’ 40 by Bundy. With time ticking away in the half, the Saints pushed into Yellow Jackets’ territory. Again on the legs of Bundy, DeKalb moved six plays to the Satterfield nine-yard-line. There the drive stalled and the Yellow Jackets took over on downs with 12 seconds left on the clock.

DeKalb started off the third quarter with good field position, returning to their own 46, but an illegal procedure call doomed the drive and the Saints were forced to punt.

The Yellow Jackets would capitalize on the three-and-out. On the punt, they returned to their own 43, then two plays later a running play had Satterfield back in the end zone. Another two-point run was good, and the Yellow Jackets lead increased 32-0, with 4:03 left in the third.

The Saints would finally put together a scoring drive on their next possession, avoiding the shutout. Starting at their own 40, the drive was all Bundy. He was handed the ball five times, and thrown to once, on a drive that took them down to the Yellow Jackets’ one-yard-line. Bundy was handed the ball once more and he was into the end zone. After a false start penalty, a pass to Isaac Walker fell short for two points, but the Saints were at last on the board 32-6, with 25 seconds left in the third.

On the kickoff, a little more trickery by the Saints failed to materialize. An onside kick resulted in Satterfield starting off at their own 47. Going 11 plays, and aided by two off sides penalties by the Saints, the Yellow Jackets moved into the fourth quarter and down to the DeKalb 10. There, the drive stalled and on a fourth a goal from the 13, the Saints’ defense got a big stop.

The Saints would take advantage of the stop, and on the next play the ball was handed to Isaac Hall, who took it all the way in for a touchdown. Hall was given the ball on the two-point conversion, and he was again into the end zone. The Saints narrowed the score 32-14, with 1:14 left to play.

A third onside kick was successful for the Saints, but it was too little, too late. Time expired with the Yellow Jackets taking the 32-14 win.

The Saints’ next game will be on Sept. 25, as they host Homecoming and Eighth Grade Night. They will face off with Gordonsville. Game time will be 6:30 pm.